A) Cut lines are smooth to the touch. They appear dark and under magnification, debris can be seen.
B) Areas where the original image has been removed appear as scrapes or gouges, they should appear as if made by a knife and not a mechanical tool.
C) There should be wear on the high spots of the coin where the carvings were made. Note the wear on the cheek bones and the beard areas. Note the uneven wear on the head band hash marks on this coin.
D) Older dated coins will tend to be authentic, as in the case of this 1916 D. During the days when these coins were carved they had no idea what the value would be in the future.
